My Mom

My mom died on Tuesday evening.  Sally and Nancy were with her.

This picture is of the four of us kids with my mom at Silver Lake.  Sally is the baby.  I'm next to my mom, with Nancy next to me and Tim at the end.

This is the last picture of the six of us together taken shortly before my dad died in 1997.

My mom and I during the summer she had cancer in 2004.

This was taken last Christmas.  My mom was suffering from compression fractures and had to wear that brace.

Just after my mom died, I wrote the following poem:

Who’s that man

standing with his arms

wide open,

tears in his eyes,

and a smile on his face?

Oh, it’s my dad

welcoming my mom.

He’s been waiting

thirteen years

for this day.

See how fast

she’s running,

now, all long legs

and limber,

dark hair

flying behind her.

It’s no joke,

Dad; she’s really there.

Scoop her up,

give her a big

hug. You’re

the remedy

she’s needed

these last declining

days.

Turn around,

walk with her

like a bride

and groom

holding hands,

grins on your faces

down the long

aisle

of a heavenly

forever.